20+ Seafood Dishes and Recipes for a Delicious Main Course
Seafood is a versatile and flavorful option for a main course, offering a variety of dishes that cater to different palates. From rich and creamy seafood pastas to grilled and baked delicacies, there’s something for everyone. Whether you prefer shrimp, fish, crab, or scallops, these recipes will bring the ocean’s best flavors to your dining table. Here are 20+ seafood dishes and recipes that make the perfect main course.
1. Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter
A classic and healthy seafood dish featuring tender salmon fillets, grilled to perfection and topped with a rich lemon butter sauce.
2. Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
A flavorful shrimp dish cooked in a garlicky butter sauce with white wine and served over pasta or crusty bread.
3. Baked Cod with Herbs and Lemon
Light and flaky cod fillets seasoned with fresh herbs and lemon, baked to a golden perfection for a nutritious meal.
4. Lobster Thermidor
A luxurious dish with lobster meat cooked in a creamy wine sauce, stuffed back into its shell, and baked until golden.
5. Seafood Paella
A vibrant Spanish rice dish loaded with shrimp, mussels, clams, and squid, seasoned with saffron and aromatic spices.
6. Cajun Blackened Tilapia
Tilapia fillets coated in bold Cajun seasoning and pan-seared to create a flavorful crust, perfect with rice or vegetables.
7. Crab-Stuffed Flounder
Delicate flounder fillets filled with a rich crab stuffing, baked with a light butter sauce for a seafood lover’s delight.
8. Pan-Seared Scallops with Garlic Butter
Golden-brown scallops seared to perfection and finished with a simple garlic butter sauce for an elegant main course.
9. Fish Tacos with Slaw
Crispy fish fillets wrapped in soft tortillas and topped with fresh slaw, avocado, and a zesty lime sauce.
10. Shrimp and Grits
A Southern classic featuring plump shrimp cooked in a spicy sauce, served over creamy, cheesy grits for a comforting meal.
11. Miso-Glazed Sea Bass
A delicate sea bass fillet glazed with a sweet and savory miso sauce, then broiled for a caramelized finish.
12. Clam Linguine
A simple yet flavorful Italian pasta dish made with fresh clams, garlic, white wine, and a hint of red pepper flakes.
13. Thai Coconut Curry Shrimp
Juicy shrimp cooked in a fragrant coconut curry sauce with Thai spices, served with steamed jasmine rice.
14. Baked Halibut with Garlic Parmesan Crust
A hearty halibut fillet coated in a crunchy garlic parmesan crust, then baked until golden and crispy.
15. Seafood Risotto
A creamy Italian risotto infused with seafood stock, loaded with shrimp, scallops, and mussels for a rich and comforting dish.
16. Grilled Swordfish Steaks
Thick swordfish steaks grilled with a light citrus marinade, served with roasted vegetables or a fresh salad.
17. Smoked Salmon Fettuccine Alfredo
Silky fettuccine tossed in a rich Alfredo sauce with smoked salmon, creating a creamy and indulgent main course.
18. Cioppino (Italian Seafood Stew)
A hearty seafood stew packed with shrimp, clams, mussels, and fish in a tomato-based broth with a hint of spice.
19. Butter Poached Lobster Tail
Succulent lobster tails gently poached in butter for an incredibly tender and flavorful seafood delicacy.
20. Mediterranean Baked Snapper
A whole snapper baked with Mediterranean herbs, olives, and tomatoes for a bright and refreshing dish.
21. Teriyaki Glazed Salmon
Salmon fillets marinated in a homemade teriyaki sauce and broiled to perfection, served with steamed rice or vegetables.
22. Shrimp Jambalaya
A Creole favorite with shrimp, sausage, and rice cooked in a spicy tomato-based sauce for a robust main course.
Conclusion
Seafood offers a wide range of delicious and nutritious main course options. Whether grilled, baked, pan-seared, or in a stew, these dishes bring out the best of ocean flavors. Try these seafood recipes for your next meal and enjoy the freshness and versatility of seafood in your main course.
I am Ashley Doyle, Senior Specialist in Food & Policy at The Humane Society of the United States and editor at airfryermama.com. I am passionate about transforming our global food system by promoting delicious, climate-friendly, plant-based foods. After transitioning from law to food and public policy, I now work with major food service companies to develop plant-based initiatives and animal welfare policies. My goal is to drive institutional change to combat climate change and improve our food system.